Ferguson: Title not a two-horse race yet

02 December 2012 01:47

The Barclays Premier League title race is yet to become one run only by Manchester City and Manchester United, according to Old Trafford manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 70-year-old refuted claims before the weekend that the title was destined to stay in Manchester following City's dramatic clinching of the crown last season.

But following a thrilling 4-3 win at Reading, after bitter rivals City had dropped points at home to Everton and out-of-form Chelsea lost at West Ham, there were renewed claims that only United and the reigning champions were in contention this time around. Asked whether Saturday's results really did make it a two-horse race for top spot the United boss said: "At this time you can't really say that."

Ferguson, who lambasted the defending from his side in a first half at the Madejski Stadium that saw Reading take the lead twice but ultimately succumb to a Robin van Persie match-winning strike after just 34 minutes, reckons the title race is still wide open.

He added: "You can't say that but I think the important thing for us is to take lessons from the mistakes we are making and find a solution, because we are going to need it."

The hard-fought win over a Reading side who few thought could cause the league leaders quite as many problems as they did means United sit three points clear of City ahead of next weekend's Manchester derby, with Chelsea now 10 points adrift of top spot.

Ferguson saw his side come from behind to win for the seventh time in the league this season, with Anderson and a Wayne Rooney brace adding to van Persie's strike, and despite defensive frailties midfielder Michael Carrick believes the United players always fancy themselves to dig out a result.

"Even if we do go a goal down we always feel we've got the firepower from different people," he told MUTV.

"That's the strength in depth of the attacking options and that's what keeps driving us on and we never give up.

"Personally I always felt confident, even when we were going goals behind, that we could still get back in the game and win the game, and that obviously proved the case."